Check out the Chelsea High Line while you are in Manhattan. Very cool public space. Also PS1 is a really cool museum that shows off local artists. I think it is in Brooklyn or Queens. Ya gotta go to the Met, for reals. Also, get shot.

While in NYC, find some non-chain breakfast/coffee spot and get a bagel. It is a very plain, bland food, but New York bagels made locally have a taste/mouth-feel that is hard to replicate. I've heard rumor that using the same bagel recipe elsewhere will fail to give the same taste because of the water -- but I don't really care if that is why they have a special taste. I just like them.

Considering there are Muslims living in america who are american and were born in america and I have a friend from whose Syrian... I think you get what I'm saying... Oh and also that's only completely irrelevant to this post, way to profile like a redneck from the deep south.